Best 28 Inch Griddles (2026)

The 2403 is the 28 inch Blackstone with three independently controlled zones, which is the feature that matters most at this size. With three zones you can sear at one end, cook at medium in the centre and hold food warm at the other end, rather than treating the plate as one big hotplate.

The listing calls this the XL, which suggests a plate with more room than the standard 28 inch models, though you should compare any stated area rather than trusting the name alone. The Omnivore plate carries the wind guards and faster preheat typical of the brand, and the hood keeps the surface clean between uses.

Against the two burner 2367 that shares the 28 inch label, the 2403 costs more but gives you the extra zone and the extra cooking flexibility. If you cook full meals instead of just breakfast, that third zone is worth paying for. The usual routine of scraping hot, oiling and covering applies, and the hood adds some protection but is no replacement for a soft cover in wet seasons. Setup is the part owners underestimate, because a three burner cart with a hood and shelves takes a patient hour with the instructions and a helper for the heavier lifts. Once it is together, keep an eye on the knob and igniter connections after the first few uses, since new hardware settles in. It is also the model to choose if you plan to keep the griddle for many years, since the zone control is the feature people grow into rather than out of.

The 1883 is the long-running family griddle: a 28 inch plate, a hood and counter height side shelves on a powder coated cart. It is the safe pick because the layout is well known and parts are easy to match.

The counter height shelves are a quiet advantage. They give you a surface at the same level as the plate for tools, plates and seasonings, which makes real cooking less awkward than on a tabletop machine.

Compared with the 2403 it has fewer zones, so you manage heat by moving food rather than by adjusting a third burner. Compared with the 1517 it adds the hood. For most people who just want a good griddle without fuss, it is the sensible middle. Maintenance is the standard flat top routine, plus a soft cover through the wet season. A practical note is that the powder coated frame is tougher than bare steel but not immune to chips, so touch up scrapes with high heat paint before moisture finds the metal underneath. Expect to wheel it to a sheltered spot in storms, because the hood is a defence against drizzle, not against driving rain. If you are choosing between this and the 1517, the hood and shelves are the whole difference worth paying for.

The 2450AZ is the 28 inch hooded griddle sold with a compatible soft cover and two spatulas. It exists to answer the question new owners ask on day one: what else do I need to buy?

The cover is the important item, because rain and dew are the main enemies of a seasoned steel plate. The spatulas get you through the first few cooks, after which most owners buy a heavier pair and a scraper.

The griddle hardware is in the same family as the 1883, so you are paying for the extras, not for a different cooking machine. If you would have bought a cover anyway, the bundle can be the tidy option. If you already own tools and a cover, the plain 1883 or 2403 is the better use of money. Always confirm the cover fits your model before you rely on it. Treat the bundle as a convenience purchase with a clear break-even: if the cover and tools would cost you a similar amount separately, you are paying for the box and nothing more. It also shortens the awkward first week, when new owners cook on an uncovered plate because the cover has not arrived yet. Keep the packaging notes, since the cover size is the detail owners most often get wrong when reordering.

The 2367 is a two burner 28 inch griddle with two independently controlled cooking zones. The listing describes it as portable and includes seasoning, which is the first thing a bare plate needs.

Two zones are enough for a hot side and a cool side, but not enough for three-stage cooking. It makes sense when your cooks are typically one main and one side, or when you value a simpler build with fewer burners to maintain.

A two burner layout also uses less propane than the three or four burner units, which matters on a camping or tailgate trip where fuel is limited. The hood protects the plate in transit. Compared with the 2403 it gives up a zone for a lower price tier, and compared with the 1517 it adds a hood. Look at it as the compact, efficient option within the 28 inch family. Because it has only two burners, recovery after a cold load is slower than on the three zone 2403, so cook in smaller batches rather than dumping a whole tray of frozen patties at once. Portability is the real selling point: with fewer burners, less weight and a hood, it rides in a trunk more happily than the heavier carts. Keep the seasoning that comes with it handy for the first oiling passes.

The 1517 is the 28 inch griddle with the fewest frills. The listing gives 517 square inches of plate and a rear grease management system, and the Omnivore plate brings the same wind guards and fast preheat as the pricier models.

With grease leaving through the rear, the front of the griddle stays free for you. That is a small design choice that makes the machine nicer to work at over the years.

Without a hood, the plate is exposed. A cover is not optional and oiling after each cook is more important, because rust is the most common reason an outdoor griddle gets replaced. Against the hooded 1883 it costs less and weighs less. If you want 28 inches of cooking for the smallest outlay and you will be disciplined about covers, this is the pick. Owners who choose it tend to be tinkerers who already own a cover and a scraper and like a machine with nothing extra to break. The rear grease path is the feature to notice in practice, because it keeps drips away from your forearms and from the front shelf.